Future Tank

[Naruto666]

Hey guys, been quite a while since my last post. I've been thinking about setting up my old tank when I finally settle down, but not too sure what to do. I love cichlids and like slightly active tanks, but not too much. I was thinking a tank with any combination of the following fish. Female Convict, Salvini, Turquoise Severum, Blue Acara and some nicer plecos and or cat fish. Not really wanting anything much bigger than 8 inches. Right now I have a 55 gallon tank a couple hundred miles away, but was thiking about selling it and going for a 75 gallon tank. Also I am wondering about aquascaping and designing that perfect tank we all strive for...any thoughts on how to perfect that tank from the substrate to plants and woods and carved or any other 3D background. Wanting to go the more natural way in this tank. Thank in advanced for the awesome comments

[OinKY]

Long time no see or hear.

75g would be the way to go. More volume,more space for decor,more options.
Simply look at "nature pics" for ideas. Biotope-style decor isn't hard to achieve once you know what you want,it's just simply arranging rocks/driftwood into a pleasing natural look."Perfect" is subjective...it just has to please you.

[Naruto666]

That is true. Then in that case I'll concentrate mainly on the fish and plants. Would a Blue Acara and a Red Spotted Turquoise Severum get along with each other in a 75 gal?http://www.azgardens.com/p-2074-severum-red-spotted-turquoise-severum-cichlid.aspx I like the look of that guy, and what are some beautiful plecos or catfish in my 8inch or below range that would be accepted with the cichlids? And what sort of plants are hardy and can stand the cichlid abuse?

[OinKY]

Sev and Blue Acara should be compatible... as would any of the Acara-type cichlids. Also meets your 8" and under sizing.
Not being a Plec fan,I'd hesitate on "colorful" and "interesting". I'm sure others can give great advice on that.
Catfish-wise,I'd lean towards Pims like Pictus. The 6" max on these isn't bad and they are light bio-load (lot lighter than Plecs) and allows for a school of 3 (the minimum you should have with Pictus)...very active and entertaining. Theoretically,considering the max size on the cichlids involved you could even pull off larger Corys.
Keeping bio-load down,you could still work in a small school (5) of the mid-size Tetras like Emporer,Serpae (which can be rowdy enough to keep with mid-size cichlids),or Buenos Aires.

[Naruto666]

In your experiences,how big to the Acara and Severums get? I've read from 6"- 12" but thats quite a gap

[OinKY]

A true Blue Acara may make 7" (male) but average is 6". Sevs basically depend on species...most of the ones in the hobby may make 10" over time...but most seem to really slow down at 8" and a 12" Sev is an old Sev.

[Naruto666]

http://www.gillsnfins.ca/deluxe3d.php
Whats your opinion on those backgrounds...I know, not an original piece, but pretty good looking

[Tim]

If you want any plants then the severum is a bad choice. We have a pair of them and they've eaten every plant that has ever been in the tank within a few days.

[Naruto666]

If I was going to go with an acara, what other 6-8 inchers would compliments its temperament and also look good in the tank. How many hoplo cats can or should be kept together?

[OinKY]

Hoplo's are fairly social,so the number depends on the size of the tank,but in a 75g I'd hold it down to 2-3 as they can get 10" over time.
A personal favorite is Dianema urostriatum (Flagtail Catfish). Smaller at 5" and also social...fine with milder mid-size cichlids...it will often shoal at the mid-level when kept in groups over 3. Natural decor would be a sand substrate with tangled driftwoods,plants not a necessity but you could put some Anubias (easy care) up on the driftwood.

Going with a sand substrate,and no rooted plants,give a Geophagus species like Tapajos Redhead a try. They have "O-like personality" too. 6" adult size.

75g could support a Blue Acara,a pair of Redheads,3 Flagtails,possibly a small school of mid-size Tetras...but might look "busy" later once some size is on everyone.

[Naruto666]

Any loner cats you can think of....I had a Stripped Raphael a while ago and loved it. I like the Geo you mentioned too, shape reminded me of a firemouth

[OinKY]

Loner cats are easy. You have the Rapheals to chose from,there's the Pims (especially P. blochii,personal favorite),numerous Plecs (someone else would have to recommend a good one).

That particular Geo is also one of the smaller ones...more in line with the 75g.

[Naruto666]

With HOB filters, you look for a turnover rate of about 10x the tank capacity, whats the standard or benchmark turnover for a canister?

[donsfish]

Yes 10x for HOBs, 5x for canisters, 7.5x for combination HOB and canister. Those are the minimum recommended......

[Naruto666]

http://www.gillsnfins.ca/3d_install.php

I am wondering here, towards the bottom of the page in the link, they are describing their filtration system and they've lost me. Are they building one in the tank itself and thats why the media and pump are in there, or is the pump or water flow? Any help here would be nice